M 7.9 Earthquake and Tsunami (1.6 m) in Costa Rica from 05 Sep 2012 14:42 UTC to 14:42

Hazard models

EQ parameters
Shakemap
Tsunami

Event summary

This earthquake is expected to have a medium humanitarian impact based on the magnitude and the affected population and their vulnerability.

Earthquake Magnitude: 7.9M
Depth: 46 Km
Lat/Lon: 9.9 , -85.5
Event Date: 05 Sep 2012 14:42 UTC
05 Sep 2012 08:42 Local
Exposed Population: 520000 people within 100km
Source: NEIC usc000cfsd
Inserted at: 02 Feb 2017 13:11 UTC

GDACS Score

For more info on GDACS alert score click here.
  Earthquake Tsunami GDACS score
NEIC 1.3 2 2
usc000cfsd Scaled population (vector) n.a Max wave scenario 0m  
  C1 earthquake n.a Max wave realtime 1.56m  
  C2 earthquake n.a      
  Country Vulnerability n.a      
  INFORM_normalised n.a      
Maximum expected impact using different data sources.

Episode Timeline

IDAlertScoreDateMag, DepthMMI*Population**Tsunami risk***Delay (hh:mm)Source
119341 2 05 Sep 2012 14:42 7.9M, 46km N/A 520 thousand (in 100km) 1.6m (at 00:34) 1610d 22:29 NEIC
119342 1.3 05 Sep 2012 14:42 7.5M, 10km N/A 830 thousand (in 100km) 0.3m (at 00:26) 1610d 22:29 NEIC
119343 2 05 Sep 2012 14:42 7.9M, 20km N/A 550 thousand (in 100km) 2m (at 00:50) 1610d 22:29 NEIC
119344 1.3 05 Sep 2012 14:42 7.6M, 40.8km N/A 770 thousand (in 100km) 0.7m (at 00:48) 1610d 22:29 NEIC
119345 1.2 05 Sep 2012 14:42 7.4M, 35km N/A 800 thousand (in 100km) 0.1m (at 00:30) 1610d 22:29 NEIC
119352 1.3 05 Sep 2012 14:42 7.6M, 40.2km N/A 1.1 million (in MMI>=VII) 0.9m (at 00:48) 1610d 22:29 NEIC
119397 2 05 Sep 2012 14:42 7.6M, 40km N/A 680 thousand (in 100km) 1d 01:15 NEIC
The episode that generated the alert; the next major evaluations beyond 12 hours will not trigger additional alerts.
The episode that has the last updated information.
* The max MMI detected for sources having shakemaps;
** The population detected in MMI>=7 for episode with shakemap or in a 100km radius;
*** The tsunami max height.

Exposed population

The earthquake happened in Costa Rica , Province of Guanacaste (population 226,557) . The nearest places are Galilea, Sámara, Carrillo, Arbolito, Primavera, Naranjal, Cueste Grande, San Roque, Guapinol, Garza, and Sardinal.

Radius Population
100 km 520000 people
75 km 290000 people
50 km 140000 people
20 km 16000 people
10 km 2300 people
5 km <1000 people
2 km <1000 people

Affected Provinces

Region Province Country Population
Guanacaste Costa Rica 230000 people

Affected populated places

Name Region Province Country City class Population Distance
Galilea Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 3 km
Sámara Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 4 km
Carrillo Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 5 km
Arbolito Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 8 km
Primavera Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 9 km
Naranjal Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 11 km
Cueste Grande Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 14 km
San Roque Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 14 km
Guapinol Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 14 km
Garza Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 16 km
Pilas Blancas Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 17 km
Boca del Nosara Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 19 km
Bejuco Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 19 km
Hoja Ancha Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 19 km
Ángeles de Monte Romo Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 20 km
Porvenir Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 22 km
Quirimán Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 23 km
Sonzapotal Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 23 km
San Antonio Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 24 km
Mansión Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 26 km
Cuajiniquil Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 26 km
Nicoya Guanacaste Costa Rica City 15000 people 28 km
Camas Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 28 km
Esperanza Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 29 km
Puerto San Juanillo Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 30 km
Santa Rita Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 30 km
Guabo Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 30 km
San Francisco Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 31 km
Los Ángeles Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 31 km
El Vigía Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 33 km
San Pablo Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 33 km
San Antonio Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 34 km
Zapote Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 34 km
San Rafael Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 35 km
Marbella Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 35 km
Nambí Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 35 km
Quebrada Honda Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 38 km
Corozal Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 39 km
Manzanillo Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 40 km
Ángeles Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 41 km
Santa Cruz Guanacaste Costa Rica City 12000 people 41 km
Caballito Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 41 km
San Lázaro Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 41 km
Ángeles Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 42 km
Duendes Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 42 km
Cerro Frío Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 43 km
Nancite Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 43 km
Paso Hondo Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 43 km
Dominicas Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 44 km
Lagunilla Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 44 km
Puerto Carazo Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 44 km
Santiago Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 45 km
Paraíso Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 45 km
Pozo de Agua Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 46 km
Esperanza Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 46 km
Talolinga Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 46 km
Cóbano Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 48 km
Rosario Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 48 km
Puerto Humo Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 48 km
Caimito Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 49 km
Guaria Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 49 km
Carmen Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 49 km
Montaña Grande Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 50 km
Pinilla Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 51 km
Bolsón Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 51 km
Las Cañas Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 51 km
Lepanto Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 51 km
Colorado Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 53 km
Tiquirusas Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 54 km
Catalina Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 54 km
Moctezuma Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 55 km
Portegolpe Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 55 km
Moralito Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 55 km
Quebrada Bonita Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 55 km
Tambor Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 55 km
Santa Rosa Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 56 km
Cabuya Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 56 km
Cartagena Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 56 km
Belén Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 57 km
Abangares Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 57 km
Abangaritos Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 59 km
Santa Lucía Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 59 km
Huacas Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 60 km
Porosal Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 60 km
Cascante Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 60 km
Cabo Blanco Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 60 km
Tempate Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 61 km
Refundores Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 61 km
Lagarto Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 62 km
La Palma Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 63 km
Bebedero Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 63 km
Paquera Puntarenas Costa Rica Village 1500 people 63 km
Gigante Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 63 km
Tortugal Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 63 km
Morales Puntarenas Costa Rica Village - 64 km
Hacienda Tamarindo Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 64 km
Brasilito Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 64 km
Asientillo Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 65 km
Hotel Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 65 km
Huacas Guanacaste Costa Rica Village - 65 km

see full list

Critical infrastructure

Airports, ports, nuclear plants and hydrodams at risk, if affected, are listed below.

Airports

Name IATA Code Elevation (m) Usage Runway type IFR Runway Length (ft) Distance
Carrillo RIK 2 Civ. Unpaved No 3900 4 km
Nosara NOB 10 Civ. Paved No 3200 19 km
Nicoya 120 0 26 km
Palo Arco 100 Civ. Paved No 3200 30 km
Nicoya Guanacaste NCT unknown 0 33 km
Playa Samara PLD unknown 0 40 km
Santa Cruz Guanacaste SZC unknown 0 41 km
Tambor TMU unknown 0 56 km
Cabo Velas 10 0 63 km
Flamingo FMG unknown 0 65 km
Las Canas LCS unknown 0 71 km
Liberia International LIR 70 Civ. Paved Yes 9000 77 km
Chacarita 2 Civ. Paved No 4900 80 km
La Flor 55 Civ. Paved No 3100 83 km

Ports

Name LOCODE Country Distance
Puntarenas CRPAS Costa Rica 72 km
Caldera CRCAL Costa Rica 86 km

More information

For a full list of available products related to this event, please refer to the GDACS Resources page.